Golf shoe cleat tool and holder



April 1966 G. M. WIGLEY 3,243,831

GOLF SHOE CLEAT TOOL AND HOLDER Filed 001;. 14; 1964 INVENTOR.

M.- Wig/9y A f/ameys United States Patent 3,243,831 GOLF SHOE CLEAT TOOL AND HOLDER George M. Wigley, Oxford, Ala. Filed Oct. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 403,819 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-105) This invention relates to a golf shoe cleat tool and holder and more particularly to a composite unit which 18 adapted to carry spare cleats which in turn constitute a part of the means for rotating 9. cleat tool which is carried by the unit.

A specific object of my invention is to provide a golf shoe cleat tool and holder of the character designated in which the spare cleats are so mounted as to receive a finger or thumb of the user whereby the finger or thumb is held against slipping during use of the device.

, Another object of my invention is to provide a golf shoe cleat tool and holder of the character designated in which the cleat tool is provided with an offset central portion to receive the spike of the cleat whereby the spike provides lateral support for the cleat tool during rotation thereof and thus prevents the wrench from slipping and causing damage to the knuckles of the hand when removing or tightening the cleat to the golf shoe.

A further object of my invention is to provide a golf shoe cleat tool and holder which shall also include a cleaning element which is adapted to move from a position inwardly of the edges of the device to an outwardly extending position whereby it may be employed to clean the threaded receptacles for the cleats or may be employed to clean mud, dirt and the like from the usual holes provided in the cleat elements.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, golf cleats have a tendency to become loose and eventually either come completely out of the golf shoe or damage the female receptacle which receives the threaded portion of the usual cleat. To assure that the golfer always has a spare cleat and means for installing the same, I'have devised an improved cleat tool and bolder therefor in which the cleats themselves form a part of the means for rotating the cleat tool.

A golf shoe cleat tool and holder embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, showing the device in use;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental, sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view showing the device rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, drawn to a smaller scale, showing the opposite side of the device from that shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, the device comprises a relatively fiat body having a cleat tool indicated generally at 11 projecting outwardly from one edge 12 thereof. The body 10 is generally of the shape of a trapezoid whereby an edge 13 opposite the edge 12 extends generally parallel to the edge 12, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The edges 12 and 13 are connected to each other by side edges 14 and 16 which flare outwardly toward the edge 13, as shown.

The cleat tool 11 is secured to the body 10 by suitable means indicated generally at 17 whereby the tool rotates with the body 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleat tool 11 is provided with an offset central portion 18, as viewed in transverse cross section which is in position to engage the spike end 19 of a cleat indicated generally at 21 whereby the spike 19 provides lateral support for the cleat tool 11 as it is rotated. This lateral support 3,243,831 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 prevents the tool from slipping and thus damaging the knuckles of the hand by scraping across other cleats located on the golf shoe. Outwardly projecting elements 22 are provided at the outer end of the cleat tool 11 in position to engage the usual opening 23 provided in the cleats 21, as shown in FIG. 1. That is, openings 23 are provided at opposite sides of the spike 19 for receiving the outwardly projecting members 22 carried by the cleat tool 11. Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the portion of the cleat tool 11 intermediate the outwardly projecting members 22 is cut away to provide an arcuate recess 24 which is adapted to clear the base portion of the spike 19, as shown in FIG. 1.

Spaced apart threaded openings 26 and 27 are provided in the body 10 for receiving threaded portions 28 of the cleats 21. That is to say, the cleat 21 is provided with the threaded portion 28 at the opposite side thereof from the spike 19, as shown in FIG. 1, with an intermediate disc-like porion 29 therebetween. The threaded portion 28 is adapted to engage the usual threaded receptacle 31 provided in a golf shoe indicated generally at 32. The intermediate disc-like portion 29 bears against the sole of the golf shoe 32 in the usual manner, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The openings 26 and 27 are spaced from each other a distance to receive a digit 33 of a hand indicated generally at H, such as a thumb. It will be apparent, however, that a finger, such as the second finger of a hand, may be positioned between the spikes 19 while the first and third fingers are positioned outwardly of the spikes 19. In either case, the digit positioned between the spikes 19 prevents slipping of the digit relative to the body 10 as the device is rotated to install or remove a cleat 21. It will be noted that when the thumb is positioned between the spikes 19, as shown in FIG. 1, the first, second and third fingers are positioned at the reverse side of the body 10. On the other hand, when the second finger of the hand H is positioned between the spikes 19, the thumb would be positioned at the reverse side of the body 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the openings 26 and 27 are so positioned that a line connecting the same extends generally perpendicular to the outwardly projecting cleat tool 11.

An opening 34 is provided through the body 10 in position to receive an end portion 36 of the elongated cleaning element 37, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The cleaning element 37 is generally L-shaped, as shown, and is provided with a pointed end 38 opposite the laterally extending end portion 36 which extends through the opening 34. An enlarged head 39 is provided on the cleaning element 38, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby it is attached to the body 10.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved golf shoe cleat tool and holder will be readily understood. The threaded portions 28 of a pair of cleats 21 are screwed into the threaded receptacles or openings 26 and 27 in the body 10 whereby the cleats 21 are held in spaced relation to each other, as shown in FIG. 1, in position to receive a digit of the hand H therebetween. To remove a cleat 21 from the shoe 32, the thumb 33 is positioned between the spikes 19 and the first, second and third fingers are positioned at the reverse side of the body 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. As the hand is rotated, the spikes 19 prevent the thumb from slipping relative to the body 10, thereby assuring a firm grip on the body for rotating the same. In actual practice, I have found that by so positioning the threaded openings 26 and 27 for receiving the cleats 21, the digit of the hand is prevented from slipping whereby a considerable force can be applied to the cleat tool 11 for installing or removing a cleat.

It will also be apparent that the second finger of the hand H may be inserted between the spikes 19 while the first and third fingers are positioned outwardly of the spikes instead of inserting the thumb, as shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the thumb would be positioned at the reverse side of the body whereby upon rotating the hand, the spikes 19 engage the fingers adjacent thereto to thus prevent relative slippage.

To clean the threaded receptacle 31 or to clean the openings 23 in the cleats 21, the cleaning element 37 is pivoted from the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4 to the solid line position whereby the pointed end 38 is in position to enter the threaded receptacle 31 or the opening 23, as the case may be. While not in use, the cleaning element 37 is moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved golf shoe cleat tool and holder which is extremely simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which is particularly adapted for mass production. By providing means for supporting the cleats in spaced relation to each other whereby a digit of a hand may be positioned therebetween, the hand is prevented from slipping relative to the device, thereby assuring that a considerable force may be applied to install or remove a cleat. Accordingly, a compact unit is provided which not only stores spare cleats but also is designed to impart a maximum force to the cleat being installed or removed. Also, by providing an offset central portion in the cleat tool in position to receive the spike of the cleat, the spike provides lateral support for the cleat tool as it is rotated to install or remove the cleat. Furthermore, by providing a composite unit in which a cleaning element is carried thereby and is adapted to move from a position inwardly of the body to a position outwardly of the body, I provide a self-contained device which is adapted to accomplish the complete task of installing and removing cleats from a golf shoe.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a tool and holder for golf shoe cleats having a spike portion projecting from one side thereof and a threaded portion projecting from the opposite side thereof,

4- (a) a relatively flat body,

outwardly of one edge thereof,

(c) there being spaced apart threaded openings in a side of said body receiving the threaded portions of cleats with the spike portions thereof projecting outwardly of said body in position to receive a digit of a hand therebetween whereby said digit is held against slipping as said body is rotated to impart rotation to said cleat tool.

2. In a tool and holder for golf shoe cleats as defined in claim 1 in which the spaced apart threaded openings are so positioned relative to each other that a line connecting the same extends generally perpendicularto the outwardly projecting cleat tool.

3. In a tool and holder for golf shoe cleats as defined in claim 1 in which the cleat tool is provided with an offset central portion as viewed in transverse cross section to receive the spike of a cleat whereby the spike provides lateral support for the cleat tool.

4. In a tool and holder for golf shoe cleats as defined in claim 1 in which the edge of the body from which the cleat tool projects is generally parallel to an opposite edge thereof and said opposite edge is connected to the edge from which the cleat tool projects by side edges which flare outwardly toward said opposite edge.

5. In a tool and holder for golf shoe cleats as defined in claim 1 in which an elongated cleaning element is mounted adjacent one end thereof for pivotal movement adjacent one edge of said body in position for the other end thereof to move from a location alongside and inwardly of the edges of said body to a location outwardly of said edges.

6. In a tool and holder for golf shoe cleats as defined in claim 5 in which said one end of the elongated cleaning element is provided with a laterally extending portion and said other end is pointed, there being an opening through said body adjacent and edge thereof for receiving said laterally extending portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 200,625 3/ 1965 Gentry.

880,659 3/1908 I Hammergren 128-354 2,461,639 2/1949 Grigalunas 81-90 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, ]R., Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A TOOL AND HOLDER FOR GOLF SHOE CLEATS HAVING A SPIKE PORTION PROJECTING FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF AND A THREADED PORTION PROJECTING FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF, (A) A RELATIVELY FLAT BODY, (B) A CLEAT TOOL CARRIED BY SAID BODY AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF ONE EDGE THEREOF, (C) THERE BEING SPACED APART THREADED OPENINGS IN A SIDE OF SAID BODY RECEIVING THE THREADED PORTIONS OF CLEATS WITH THE SPIKE PORTIONS THEREOF PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF SAID BODY IN POSITION TO RECEIVE A DIGIT OF A HAND THEREBETWEEN WHEREBY SAID DIGIT IS HELD AGAINST SLIPPING AS SAID BODY IS ROTATED TO IMPART ROTATION TO SAID CLEAT TOOL. 